Thank You to our Matching Grant Donor

We were thrilled to premiere our Virtual Spring Luncheon video with you. Thank you for joining us remotely as we celebrated our honorees Barbara Tartaglione and Ruthilah Bodley for making a difference for women and children in our community.

Click below to watch the Virtual Spring Luncheon!

To see more Bridge Communities videos in the spirit of Celebrating Women, Transforming Lives, click here.

Learn more about the special women featured in Celebrating Women, Transforming Lives:

Transforming Lives Award: Barbara Tartaglione

Barbara Tartaglione has over 30 years of experience in career counseling and workforce development and has a graduate degree in Counseling with emphasis in Career Development and Adult Education. She has served on the DuPage County Workforce Development Board and Education to Careers Steering Council to promote job training and career awareness for DuPage County students. Barbara also founded the West Suburban Jobs Council, an advocacy group to decrease barriers to employment for low-income job seekers and employees. And, as a volunteer for the People’s Resource Center, she assisted in the creation of the Job Assistance Program. For her contributions in helping DuPage County citizens achieve meaningful jobs at fair wages, we are proud to honor Barbara with the Transforming Lives Award.

Life Transformed Award: Ruthilah Bodley

Ruthilah Bodley and her young son were living out of her car in 2015 before they were welcomed into Bridge Communities. Through mentoring, counseling and care, Ruthilah and her son rebuilt their lives. And, once their safety and stability was achieved, Ruthilah was hired as a high school civics teacher in Chicago’s North Side. She serves as a role model and caring mentor to her students, many of whom have faced homelessness themselves. Ruthilah tirelessly volunteers as an ambassador for Bridge Communities as well, and we are honored to present her with the Life Transformed Award.

Event Emcee: ABC7's Judy Hsu

Judy Hsu is an Emmy Award-nominated journalist and in 2018 joined Alan Krashesky as co-anchor on the 6PM Evening News, moving on from her co-anchor duties on the 11AM show. She continues to co-anchor the 4PM News with Rob Elgas. Additionally, Judy hosts a long format interview segment that airs on Sunday mornings called “Newsviews.” This segment offers unique perspectives from Chicago area newsmakers as they address the issues impacting our community. Judy was thrilled to return to her hometown in 2001 to join ABC 7 as the primary morning anchor of the weekday morning newscast. She helped lead the morning show for 15 years before the announcement of her promotion to the afternoon newscasts. Judy’s on-air workhas garnered multiple Emmy awards. Judy’s family immigrated to Chicago from Taiwan when she was 11 years old. From living in Chicago’s Chinatown, to later attending U of I in Urbana-Champaign and then landing an on-air reporting job the day after graduation, Judy truly embodies the spirit of the American Dream success story. Since coming back to Chicago, Judy has worked with dozens of charities throughout the region highlighting issues important to local families. Judy chairs the Advisory Board for Chicago’s Chinese American Service League, and she was invited to join the Community Memorial Foundation’s Regional Health and Human Services Advisory Council in the western suburbs. One of her passions today is speaking to schoolchildren about the importance of pursuing their dreams. Excited to return as emcee, Judy is beloved by Bridge Communities supporters and has even spent an evening in the cold hosting Sleep Out Saturday in 2015. She looks forward to welcoming the important room of compassionate and caring supporters attending the luncheon. Judy resides in the western suburbs of Chicago with her husband and four children.

Transform Lives as a Monarch Society member

With your help, the women of Bridge Communities will be transformed into self-sufficient mothers able to support themselves and their families with a future that looks as bright as a butterfly’s wings. You can make a difference by becoming a member of the Monarch Society, or with a donation of any amount:

$500 provides 2 weeks of housing$100 provides 3 nights of housing$70 provides 2 nights of housing$35 provides a family with one night of housing

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Your gift will transform the life of a homeless family! Please make a donation in honor of the families served by Bridge Communities. Become a member of our Monarch Society with a life-changing gift of $500 or more!

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Your donation will double with a matching gift from DuPage Medical Group Charitable Fund!